Beekeeping bill approved in committee

September 26, 2012 —

HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation authored by Rep. Sandra Major to allow Pennsylvania beekeepers to sell their product from the site where it is processed without the need to pay registration and licensing fees was unanimously passed by the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on September 24 and sent to the full House for a vote.

Specifically, House Bill 2565 would exempt from food establishment registration and retail food facility licensing any person who is in compliance with the Honey Sale and Labeling Act and who processes 100 percent of the honey products offered to the public on the farm from which the products are offered. Honey products offered at locations other than the farm of origin are not exempt.

“This issue was first brought to my attention by a group of beekeepers in my legislative district. The issue impacts the ability of beekeepers across the entire Commonwealth who wish to sell honey to consumers,” said Major. “It would seem the registration process and fee needed in order to sell honey could hamper the ability of beekeepers to sell the product resulting from beekeeping, which beekeepers often use to cover the cost of their hobby.”